In lieu of ESPN promoting the heck out of Wednesday’s hoops summit between Duke and North Carolina, SEC Country conversely offers the “SEC’s Top Five Football Rivalries Right Now” — a three-year study of the conference’s best annual showdowns (head-to-head for all three years).

The general criteria includes: National rankings, SEC standings, the final scores and whatever abstract or ancillary items might tilt the scales — one way or the other.

Per usual, we welcome all dissenting opinions for this numbers-based, but eminently subjective countdown.

c) Saban (four national titles since 2009) is unquestionably college football’s best recruiter (more on that later), but Freeze (top-10 classes for 2013 and 2016) may assume that mantle whenever the Alabama legend retires.

d) Alabama should be a three-day headliner for the upcoming NFL draft, but Ole Miss will likely rule Day 1 in prime time — with offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (possible No. 1 pick to the Titans), wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche potentially going in the top 20.

e) Incumbent quarterback Chad Kelly (the SEC’s reigning passing champion) threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in Ole Miss’s shakedown of Alabama last season (43-37). On the flip side, QB Cooper Bateman drew the starting nod in the Crimson Tide’s lone defeat in that championship campaign.

f) Citing the last three seasons, Ole Miss was the only SEC team to win the Sugar Bowl (Alabama lost twice during that span).

2. LSU vs. ALABAMA

REASONS TO LOVE

a) For the three November meetings (2013-15), the Crimson Tide and Tigers were both ranked in the top 15 (Associated Press poll).

b) Citing 247Sports.com’s recruiting rankings: Since 2014, Alabama and LSU have finished 1-2 among SEC programs twice. Going one step further, the Crimson Tide, according to 247Sports, have captured the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for six consecutive seasons (2011-16).

c) By extension, Alabama and LSU have combined for nine first-round picks in the last three NFL drafts.

d) This is the one countdown rivalry to absorb two negative factoids: Alabama won all three games during this span and it had an average victory margin of 14 points.

3. UGA vs. TENNESSEE

REASONS TO LOVE

a) The Bulldogs and Volunteers have notched 30-plus points in each of their last three meetings.

b) The cumulative final score during that span: Tennessee 101, UGA 100.

c) In 2015, Tennessee rallied from a 24-3 deficit and pulled out a 38-31 victory. In 2014, the Volunteers (down 11 late) nearly pulled off a harrowing comeback win, even with UGA tailback Todd Gurley’s 238 total yards (208 rushing) and two touchdowns.

And in the previous year, Tennessee tailback Alton “Pig” Howard agonizingly fumbled the ball into the end zone — just inches before scoring a go-ahead touchdown in overtime (below).

b) The 2013 Iron Bowl represents the most famous ending of this survey, with Auburn needing an incredible ‘Kick Six’ touchdown return to shock No. 1 Alabama with no time left. The Tigers also claimed the SEC West title with the victory and subsequently defeated Missouri in the conference championship game.

c) Auburn and Alabama (twice) have claimed the last three SEC championships.

d) How’s this for quirky: Auburn and Alabama, two prominent defensive programs, rolled for 99 points in the 2014 Iron Bowl, with the Tide winning, 55-44.